Dispensing carton

ABSTRACT

A carton provided with a plurality of chambers for dispensing predetermined measured quantities, which carton includes a member providing both structural support and separation for the chambers.

O r I United States Patent 1 [111 3,738,544 Brown 1 June 12, 1973 [54]DISPENSING CARTON 2,803,385 8/195 7 Silver et al 222/456 X 1 mm RandolphBrown, Hammad, 33552153? 211322 2$$5T.ij.iiiii .11.??5552? N.Y. [73]Assignee: Owen W. Coleman Associates, Inc.,

New York, Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-JohnJ. Love Flledl Ju y 26,1971 Att0rneyGeorge B. Finnegan, .lr., GranvilleM. [21] Applv No: 166,199 Pine, Thomas R. MacDonald et al.

[52] US. Cl. 222/454, 222/457 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. G0lf 11/26[58] Field of Search 2 5 A carton provided with a plurality of chambersfor dis- 222/457 pensing predetermined measured quantities, which cartonincludes a member providing both structural sup- [56] References Citedport and separation for the chambers. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,235,1442/1966 Pitkin et a]. 222/456 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures n 22 42 ZI| Vl1 L m r Z5 (20 11./

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DISPENSING CARTON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION dry and of a generallyuniform particulate consistency.

Illustrative of such merchandise are sugar, cereal, de-

monly packaged in cardboard containers. Many of these products arerepetitively used in uniform quantities. For example, detergents areusually dispensed at each use in quantities in cups or quarter cups,cereals are dispensed in repetitivebowl size portions; sugar isdispensed in spoonful size portions, etc. As a result, many packagescontaining these dry, granular or flaked goods are sold with measuringcups packaged in the carton.

At present, dispensing containers exist which contain plural chamberstructures for measuring a predetermined volume and providing fordispension of such predetermined volume upon inverting the container.One such container is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,393,262. However, theprior art carton and carton blanks which contain the pluralchamberassemblies for measuring predetermined amounts of ingredients are clumsyand require a large quantity of extra cardboard material to provide thespecial measuring chambers. In addition, extra glueing surfaces andstructural pieces are needed to maintain the measuring chambers in theproper orientation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to a carton foraffording the dispensing of a predetermined amount of the contentsthereof. The invention is directed in particular to both the carton andthe blank from which the carton is formed. The design of the blank ofthe present invention affords a minimum of additional material to formthe measuring and dispensing chambers and also provides structuralreinforcement from the same members used to perform the measuring anddispensing function.

The blank of the present invention includes the four conventionalcontainer box sides with their associated flap and tab members. Inaddition, the blank is formed with four adjacent baffle sections whichfold into two chambers to form the measuring and dispensing chambers inthe assembled container.

One baffle member, referred to as the fourth baffle, is on the end' ofthe blank and is sized to extend diagonally across the container andthrough the measuring and dispensing chambers. The third baffle memberis immediately adjacent to the fourth baffle and is diagonallyconfigured. It is adapted to be glued to one side of the carton. Thenext or second baffle member is adapted to extend the width of thecarton parallel to the front and back of the carton. The first bafflememher is adapted to be glued to the side wall of the container directlyopposite the third baffle member.

Thus, in the assembled container the fourth baffle member is diagonallyarranged within the box and. provides a common wall for each of the twodispensing chambers. In addition, the diagonally disposed fourth baffleforms astructural support to maintain the box in its upright positionwhen the box is in its assembled form. As a result, no additionalglueing surface is needed to maintain the fourth baffle in itsparticular orientation. Furthermore, the fourth baffle member isdiagonally arranged and therefore adapted to facilitate folding of theentire box into a flattened state for storage when the box is in itsunassembled form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described in detailwith reference to the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the carton blank made in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton of the present invention inits assembled state;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view of the carton of FIG. 2 throughline 33;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of the carton of FIG. 2 through line 44;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled carton of the presentinvention with a partial section exposed; and

FIG. 6 is .a sectional elevational view of the assembled carton in itsinverted orientation to show the dispensing function thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is acarton blank and the carton or container formed from the carton blank.The container of the present invention is particularly suitable forproviding dispensing of a predetermined measured quantity when it isinverted.

FIG. 1 shows the blank 1 of the present invention. Baffle members 3, 4,5 and 6 are integrally formed with the blank 1 to provide the structurefor the measuring and dispensing chambers of the assembled carton 2.Panels 7, 8, 9 and 10 are conventional box panels which, withconventional associated flaps and tabs, form the exterior of the carton2.

Panel 7 is adapted to form the front panel of the assembled carton 2.Tabs 13 and 17 are associated with panel 7 and are formed into bottomand top carton members by folding along fold lines 26 and 25,respectively. Flap 17 is provided with a slot 42 which is designed tocooperate with a closure flap to provide a closeable opening for theassembled carton 2. Panel 8 forms a carton side panel and has connecteddirectly thereto, bottom and top flaps l4 and 19 respectively. Foldlines 27 and 28 are provided to allow the flaps l4 and 19 to foldproperly with respect to the panel 8. Section 18 is separated from flap19 by a perforated score line 48. Panel 9 is adapted to form a rearpanel of carton 2 and has attached to it tab members 15 and 20respectively. .Fold lines 33 and 29 are provided to allow the tabs 15and 20 to properly fold with respect to the panel 9. Panel 10 is adaptedto form a carton side panel and has flaps 16 and 21 connected directlyto it. Fold lines 32 and 30, respectively, allow the flaps 16 and 21 toproperly fold.

In addition, a flap 22 is directly attached to panel 10 adjacent to flap21. Fold line 31 is provided to afford proper folding of flap 22. Flap22 is provided with a contoured surface 34 which is adapted to cooperatewith the slot 42 in tab 17 to provide the closeable opening for thecarton 2 when in its assembled form. The carton 2 is shown in FIG. 2 inits assembled form and depicts the flap 22 with its contoured surface 34in the slot 42 of tab 17. The score line 47 initially connects flaps 21and 22 but after the initial use of the carton 2, the score line 47 istorn to permanently separate flaps 21 and 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, the baffle members 3, 4, 5 and 6 are integrallyformed with the blank 1. First baffle member 6 connects directly topanel member 7 at fold line 38; second baffle member 5 connectsdirectlyto baffle member 6 at fold line 37; third baffle member 4 connectsdirectly to baffle member 5 at line 36; and fourth baffle member 3connects directly to baffle member 4 at line 35. Baffle members 3 and 5are provided with tab members 11 and 12 respectively at fold lines 23and 24 respectively.

Baffle member 3 is sized with a height dimension to extend from the topof the carton to an intermediate position. The width of the bafflemember 3 is chosen to enable the baffle member 3 to extend diagonallyacross the carton 2 and thereby provide a common wall for the measuringdispensing chambers 45 and 46. Baffle member 4 is integrally formed withbaffle member 3 at fold line 35 and is configured with diagonal edges 43and 44 to enable the baffle 5 which is connected directly to baffle 4 atline 36 to extend from the bottom of the carton. Practice has taughtthat the stock used in configuring baffle member 4 with diagonal edgesprovides additional structural reinforcement for the carton anddispenser measuring structure when the carton is assembled. Baffle 5 issized with a height dimension to extend from the bottom of the carton 2to a predetermined intermediate position. Baffle member 6 extends frombaffle member 5 at fold line 37 and connects directly to panel 7 at foldline 38.

The structure of the baffles 3-6 in the assembled carton is best seen inFIGS. 3, 4 and 5. In the assembled state the baffle members 4 and 6 areglued directly to the side walls 8 and of the carton 2 respectively.Baffle 5, which is connected to baffles 4 and 6, extends directly acrossthe carton 2 parallel to the front and rear panels 7 and 9. Baffle 3extends diagonally across the box'from the front of the box at baffle 4to the fold line 37 connecting baffles 5 and 6. Baffles 3, 4 and 5define a chamber 45 for measuring a predetermined quantity of thecontents of the carton 2. Baffles 3 and 6 and front panel 7 define achamber 46 for dispensing the measured quantity from the carton 2.

Thus, as best seen in FIG. 3, panel 5 extends upwardly from the bottomof the carton to an intermediate position and the diagonally arrangedpanel 3 extends from the top of the carton downwardly to an intermediateposition which is a predetermined distance below the top of panel 5.

The triangularly shaped tab 11 is folded along line 23 to preventcommunication between the top of chamber 46 and the interior of thecarton 2. This tab is not necessary when the contents of the carton aresufficiently large and inadvertent passage of material from the cartoninterior to the chamber 46 is unlikely.

Functionally, it can be seen in FIG. 6 that the contents of the carton 2in the area directly below the baffle 3 and in the chamber 46 will emptyentirely from the carton when the carton is inverted as shown in FIG. 6.However, baffle 5 prevents any additional contents of the container frompassing to the area of chamber 46, but allows a quantity of the contentsto pass into chamber 45. Upon returning the box to its upright position,the contents of chamber 45 drops to the area below chamber 46.

It is clear that the depth of panel 3 determines the amount of thecontents dispensed on each inversion of the carton 2. Therefore,depending on the quantity desired to be dispensed upon each use, thebaffle 3 can be sized to afford the desired quantity. The criticality inthe size of the baffle is dependent on the volume defined by the surfacearea of chamber 46 and the height dimension from the bottom of carton 2to the bottom of baffle 3. For example, in such volume is one cupful,one cupful will be dispensed each time the box is opened. Baffle 5 mustbe large enough to prevent passage of the contents from the cartoninterior to passage 46 while the box is inverted, but small enough toallow at least the predetermined volume to pass into chamber 45 when thecarton 2 is returned to the upright position. If more than thepredetermined measured amount is allowed to pass into the chamber 45,baffle 3 will pre-' vent the excess over the predetermined amount fromentering the chamber 46 when the carton 2 is inverted.

I claim:

1. In a carton for materials of dry, substantially uniform particulateconsistency having a first side, a second side, a front, a back, a topwith a closeable opening, a bottom and an internally disposed structurefor dispensing a predetermined quantity of said material, theimprovement comprising:

a first baffle secured to a first side wall and extending from the frontof the carton to a medial location on the first side wall;

a second baffle extending transversely parallel to the 'front and backof said carton from the first side wall to the second side wall andextending upwardly from the bottom of the container to a medialposition;

a third baffle secured to the second side wall and extending from thesecond baffle to the front of the carton; and v a fourth baffleextending diagonally from the front of the container to the juncture ofthe first and second baffle and extending downwardly from the top of thecontainer to a medial location below the top of the second bafflesection; whereby the first baffle, the fourth baffle and the cartonfront define a first vertical chamber below the closeable opening in thecarton top from which a predetermined measured quantity flows uponinversion of the carton; the second baffle, the third baffle and thefourth baffle define a second vertical chamber in communication with thebottom of the first vertical chamber and into which at least a quantityof carton material equal to the predetermined measured quantity flowsupon uprighting the carton after dispensing a predetermined measuredquantity of material by opening the carton opening and inverting thecarton.

2. A carton as recited in claim 1 wherein the first, second, third andfourth baffles are integrally formed and separated by fold lines.

3. A carton as recited in claim 2 wherein the first baffle is integrallyformed with the front of the carton and separated by a fold line.

4. A carton as in claim 3 further comprising a triangularly shapedtap-integrally formed with the fourth baffle and folded over the areadefined by the second vertical chamber to prevent the inadvertentpassage of material between the fourth baffle and the top of the carton.

5. A carton as in claim 3 wherein the unattached edges of the thirdbaffle extend diagonally from the second baffle to thefourth baffle.

6. In a blank for forming a carton for dispensing dry, substantiallyuniformly sized particles of material in predetermined measuredquantities having side members, a front section, a back section,associated tabs and flaps for forming top and bottom carton sections,

' of the squares of the width of the second baffle section and the thirdbaffle section and a height dimension extending from the top of thecarton downwardly to a medial location below the top of the secondbaffle section, and a substantially triangular tab extending from thetop of the fourth baffle section and a substantially square tabextending from the bottom of the second baffle section.

1. In a carton for materials of dry, substantially uniform particulateconsistency having a first side, a second side, a front, a back, a topwith a closeable opening, a bottom and an internally disposed structurefor dispensing a predetermined quantity of said material, theimprovement comprising: a first baffle secured to a first side wall andextending from the front of the carton to a medial location on the firstside wall; a second baffle extending transversely parallel to the frontand back of said carton from the first side wall to the second side walland extending upwardly from the bottom of the container to a medialposition; a third baffle secured to the second side wall and extendingfrom the second baffle to the front of the carton; and a fourth baffleextending diagonally from the front of the container to the juncture ofthe first and second baffle and extending downwardly from the top of thecontainer to a medial location below the top of the second bafflesection; whereby the first baffle, the fourth baffle and the cartonfront define a first vertical chamber below the closeable opening in thecarton top from which a predetermined measured quantity flows uponinversion of the carton; the second baffle, the third baffle and thefourth baffle define a second vertical chamber in communication with thebottom of the first vertical chamber and into which at least a quantityof carton material equal to the predetermined measured quantity flowsupon uprighting the carton after dispensing a predetermined measuredquantity of material by opening the carton opening and inverting thecarton.
 2. A carton as recited in claim 1 wherein the first, second,third and fourth baffles are integrally formed and separated by foldlines.
 2. A carton as recited in claim 1 wherein the first, second,third and fourth baffles are integrally formed and separated by foldlines.
 3. A carton as recited in claim 2 wherein the first baffle isintegrally formed with the front of the carton and separated by a foldline.
 4. A carton as in claim 3 further comprising a triangularly shapedtap integrally formed with the fourth baffle and folded over the areadefined by the second vertical chamber to prevent the inadvertentpassage of material between the fourth baffle and the top of the carton.5. A carton as in claim 3 wherein the unattached edges of the thirdbaffle extend diagonally from the second baffle to the fourth baffle. 6.In a blank for forming a carton for dispensing dry, substantiallyuniformly sized particles of material in predetermined measuredquantities having side members, a front section, a back section,associated tabs and flaps for forming top and bottom carton sections,the improvement comprising a first baffle section extending from thefront section and separated therefrom by a fold line, a second bafflesection extending from the first baffle section having a widthequivalent to the width of the front and back section and a heightextending from the bottom of the carton section to a medial locationbetween the bottom and top of the carton section, a third baffle sectionextending from the second baffle section; a fourth baffle section havinga width substantially equal to the square root of the sum of the squaresof the width of the second baffle section and the third baffle sectionand a height dimension extending from the top of the carton downwardlyto a medial location below the top of the second baffle section, and asubstantially triangular tab extending from the top of the fourth bafflesection and a substantially square tab extending from the bottom of thesecond baffle section.